CLEVELAND, Ohio – Now they can’t even kick a field goal.
That’s what I was thinking while watching the Browns lose 35-14 to New Orleans.
Nor can they play even decent defense.
The Browns had two full weeks to prepare for the Saints, a team that entered Sunday with a 3-7 record. They weren’t facing powerhouse Pittsburgh, which comes to Cleveland on Thursday night.
This was a vulnerable New Orleans team that had fired its coach two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the Browns …
Once in a while, my father would say, “You need to get out of your own way.”
The same with those in the orange helmets.
Go figure
Suppose you knew before the game that Browns QB Jameis Winston would throw for 395 yards. And that he’d zip a pair of TD passes with zero interceptions.
Then you were told the Browns would not have any turnovers. They would be penalized only three times for 14 yards. And the defense would pick off a pass and recover a fumble.
If you knew those numbers coming into the game, you’d have assumed the Browns would have been at least close to winning.
And this … it would be a 14-14 game after three quarters.
“You’re 14-14 going into the fourth quarter,” said Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. “We didn’t finish in any phase and that’s frustrating …”
It’s worse than that; it’s embarrassing.
“When you lose like we did by 21, you don’t feel good about anything,” added Stefanski.
Lots of reasons for New Orleans celebrate. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
What has happened … to the kicker?
Remember when Dustin Hopkins was the best Browns kicker since Phil Dawson. Remember when Hopkins was 8 for 8 on field goals of at least 50 yards. Remember when it had been ages since he missed a field goal under 40 yards?
All of that seems like decades ago, although it was only last season.
In this game played in the New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome where it’s inside on artificial turf, the kickin’ should be a Big Easy. Instead. Hopkins kept leaning left.
He missed a 51-yarder … to the left.
He missed a 32-yarder … to the left … only wait, there was a penalty. He received a “do-over.”
He missed a 27-yarder … to the left.
Watching this veteran kicker melt down, you had a feeling he’d been wide left kicking almost anywhere … all alone on the field.
Hopkins is now 4 for 8 on those 50-yard field goals.
Before he missed that 27-yarder, Hopkins had made 49 consecutive field goal attempts from shorter than 40 yards.
Like the Browns, Hopkins is a mess.
“He needs to make those kicks,” said Coach Kevin Stefanski. “He knows that. He’s been in this league a long time. He’ll get it fixed.”
A lot more was wrong with the team than the kicker. But had Hopkins converted on those kicks, the Browns would have entered the fourth quarter with a 20-14 lead. Instead it was 14-14.
I’ll add the special teams in general had a miserable day as they also allowed a 53-yard punt return.
Myles Garrett. Zero tackles. Zero sacks. Zero QB hits. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
What has happened … to the defense?
A year ago, the Browns would have won this game. The defense would have shut down a team that entered the day with a 3-7 record. It certainly would not have allowed 473 yards and 21 points in the fourth quarter.
But this is 2024. Nothing for the orange helmets is remotely close to what it was a year ago when they were 11-6 and a playoff team.
The Jim Schwartz effect on the defense was worn off. The Browns gave up a 75-yard TD run to Taysom Hill. And a 33 yard TD run to … yep, Taysom Hill.
Then there was the blown coverage when it seemed some of the defensive backs were in zone coverage, others in man-to-man. But no one covered Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was wide open for a 71-yard TD pass.
Myles Garrett had no sacks, no tackles. The Browns had only one sack as a team and two QBs hits.
Denzel Ward had an interception and forced a fumble.
As for the rest of the defense … it’s really depressing.
Jameis Winston threw for 395 yards, two TDs and zero interceptions. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
What has happened … to the offense?
The presence of Winston at QB has revealed the Browns do have some capable young receivers, guys who were struggling when Deshaun Watson was the QB.
Winston connected with Jerry Jeudy for an 89-yard TD pass. He caught six passes for 142 yards.
Elijah Moore caught a 30-yard TD pass. He had six catches for 66 yards.
As for Winston, he’s made three starts and played the fourth quarter of another game. In those 13 quarters, he’s delivered seven TD passes.
He’s thrown for 334/235/395 yards. Consider that Deshaun Watson never threw for even 200 yards in his first seven starts this season.
In the last eight games not started by Watson, Joe Flacco and Winston have thrown for at least 300 yards five times. The Browns have the basics of good passing attack with Winston.
As for the rest of the team …
It’s a sad situation, not likely to get better.